Greater New Orleans

Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in Algiers needs support

One of the best-kept secrets in Algiers is Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center on Gen. de Gaulle Drive near Woodland Drive. It opened in 1999 for clergy, but soon opened its doors to laypersons, too. The facility serves 136 residents and has 138 apartments total. Three cafeterias serve all, and a variety of activities are scheduled daily.

I know all this because last week I got a phone call from Ann Pugh, former school clerk at Edna Karr Junior High and secretary at Rosenwald Elementary for over 20 years before she retired. Pugh and I worked together at Karr, but lost touch for many years. After a stroke about a year ago, Pugh became a resident of Our Lady of Wisdom, and she is serving on a committee that has planned some excellent fundraising activities to benefit their residents and the Algiers community.

In addition to Pugh, Darrine Kramer, president of the resident council at Our Lady of Wisdom; Rebecca Stahr, director of mission advancement; and Sister Kateri Battaglia, leader of mission integration and staff development, comprise the committee.

Truly a team effort, the group’s goal is to reach out to the community both by sending residents out and bringing community members in. To assist residents in their need to stay active and attend concerts, dinners, museum trips, church visits and other experiences, a $60,000, 14-passenger bus that is handicap-enabled is much needed.

To bring residents into the health care center, our community is being asked to join the Saints and Sinners Society for a $20 membership fee. This fee entitles members to win various Saints football memorabilia and watch the Saints games on the big-screen TV at Our Lady of Wisdom.

The center is also in need of a large projector screen for educational trainings and recreational events at a cost of $500. I pray that a corporate sponsor or generous benefactor will help them out. The training is a necessity for training, including those dealing with dementia in their families.

Our Lady of Wisdom will hold a community health fair Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will offer health screenings, tests, and lots of information from health and wellness professionals.

If the membership and Saints games are not all you want, how about a special getaway on a Royal Caribbean Cruise during Mardi Gras week, Feb. 9 through 13. Called the Saints and Sinners Cruise for Wisdom, this will appeal to many of us. Even though I was on a cruise last Mardi Gras, I am seriously considering going on this one as well.

For every cabin reserved with a $500 deposit by Sept. 17, you will receive a low price and guaranteed choice of deck and cabin location. More importantly, for each cabin reserved at Travel Central, Our Lady of Wisdom will receive $100 toward the purchase of the special bus the residents need so very much. Contact Ellyn at Travel Central, 504.834.7000, or Ellyn@travelcentralvacations.com for more details.

The Royal Caribbean ship is a new one that has not been in New Orleans before. Some of the special features include a rock-climbing wall, an indoor mall and an ice skating rink. Interior cabins start at $705 per person. Promenade cabins start at $815, ocean-view cabins are $875, and balcony cabins are $1,125. If you’re never been on a cruise, you may not realize how much you get for the money.

Remember that all your food for the week is included, and you can eat day and night, all day and all night. You can participate in as much activity as you like, or just sit in a comfortable place on the ship and read a book and enjoy the beautiful views on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

For more information about this special cruise offer and about Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare center, call Stahr at 504.394.5991, or Sister Kateri at 504.394.5414. More information is available at www.olwhealth.org, or you can email Stahr at rstahr@olwhealth.org.

My thanks again to Pugh for alerting me to this fundraiser and community outreach effort in Algiers. She has a granddaughter, Michaela Pugh, who is a junior at Karr Senior High and who will be volunteering at Our Lady of Wisdom as part of the Key Club outreach program.

My Karr connections follow me. Pugh told me that J. Rene Coman, former principal at Karr and former associate superintendent in Orleans and superintendent of archdiocesan schools, performs frequently with his band for the residents.

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Anthony J. Haywood Jr. has recently informed me about an activity of the 82nd Post of the American Legion he belongs to. At their newest location in Gentilly, a goal has been set to help not only Orleans Parish but a larger area in south Louisiana.

To help veterans and their families, and to serve youth in the area, the post is involved in many important projects. One young man, a student at O. Perry Walker High School, was able to compete in Boys State, an educational program in government. Hashim Walters attended this summer and showed superior leadership qualities, Haywood said.

In the 72nd session of Louisiana Boys State, Walters, while at Northwestern State University, was exposed to our city, parish and state government operations.

“I learned extensively about the process of lobbying and networking with other parishes,” he said. “I also established lifelong friendships with people I will never forget.”

My thanks to Haywood, who is a retired Army reservist and also retired from NOPD, for sharing this story with me.

This program is offered to both public and private schools in our area, and is a secret that need be shared so that children in many communities will get the benefits Boys State and Haywood’s association offer. I am hoping many principals will take advantage of this program.

Haywood can be reached by email at BuffaloSoldier2@msn.com or by phone at 1.866.966.5499.

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The Algiers Economic Development Foundation’s next business mixer will be Sept. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lakewood Golf Club.

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The Algiers Kiwanis club’s weekly meeting will be held from 7 to 8 a.m., at the Aurora Swim and Tennis Club. The speaker for this morning is Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

At the Aug. 30 meeting, members and guests will hear Michael “Beau” Read, who will speak on “I Am A Kiwanian, But Do You Really Know Me?”

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Jane Tiller is an Algiers resident who writes about events of community interest. You can contact her at 504.444.3771 or Jane.tiller@gmail.com.